PEMF is considered an extremely safe form of therapy, with few side effects.
Although there is some misconception about PEMF therapy and harmful EMFs, PEMF frequencies and intensities are not on the same level as EMFs that have been linked to harmful side effects.
A more thorough understanding of harmful EMFs and PEMF therapy can eliminate some of the concern associated with this particular type of therapy, and the technology it uses.
The association of EMFs and harm is a reasonable one.
EMFs have been linked to some health hazards, particularly with respect to power lines and studies that have linked power lines to the breakdown of bodily systems, in some cases resulting in cancer.
The EMFs used in PEMF therapy, however, differ substantially from those used in electricity, x-ray imaging, and other sources of electromagnetic energy that have been linked to deleterious health effects.
PEMF therapy is lauded for its safety and low incidence of side effects.
That is not to say that there are no potential side effects, however, as any therapy has the ability to produce unwanted side effects.
Some of the more common side effects of PEMF therapy include temporary pain, irritation at the site of application, and discomfort during treatment sessions.
These side effects are not typically intense or overwhelming, and some of them may be avoided through changing frequency, waveform, or intensity during sessions.
PEMF therapy has additional effects that are typically considered positive, but that can be problematic for certain populations.
These include decreased blood pressure, decreased blood glucose levels, and increased circulation.
While these are typically considered positive, people with heart issues, who are on blood pressure medication, who have uncontrolled diabetes, and who have blood clots may be negatively impacted by PEMF that is not conducted under close supervision.
There is one instance in which PEMF therapy may be harmful: pregnancy.
There is no safety data or research studies to either confirm or deny the potential harm inflicted, because it is not ethical to conduct safety testing on women who are pregnant.
For this reason, women who are pregnant, or who may be pregnant, are discouraged from using PEMF therapy.
PEMF can prove problematic or potentially harmful, too, for anyone who has an electrical device implanted, as the electromagnetic energy emitted from the PEMF machine can interact with pacemakers and other electrical implants.
Some practitioners will avoid using PEMF devices on these patients altogether, while others will only apply PEMF wands and mats to areas that are not directly in contact with or impacted by the implant.
In someone with a pacemaker, for instance, PEMF therapy may be placed below the chest, or above the shoulders, but avoided everywhere in between.
As a whole, PEMF therapy is not a harmful type of therapy.
It boasts significantly fewer side effects than most pharmaceutical therapies, which makes it a wonderful form of therapy and powerful intervention for issues as diverse as arthritis, pain management, bone healing, and surgical wound healing.
If safety is a concern when seeking alternative therapy, PEMF is one of the longest-standing and most thoroughly tested alternative therapy options currently available.